It is important that laws and governments encourage the development of a strong middle class in the Gulf states. Their future economic and social success will depend on the establishment of a strong body of national professionals with the education and skills to bring to bear on their societies' challenges. Long- term success cannot rely on top down management by the leadership and government officials, but also has to include self-reliance from the populations themselves.
Most GCC states are witnessing their first educated generation joining the workforce, although Kuwait and Bahrain started development one generation earlier. Therefore it is still new for governments to have to think about how legislation supports the development of young professionals, but this should be a key question when any new law is being considered. The aspirations of the new middle class will revolve around finding good education for their children, and they will be increasingly intolerant of poor-performing schools; of finding good jobs which match their skills, where they will be less accepting of arbitrary management; being able to own property and investments with security in law which will allow them to have the confidence to build for their (and their children's) future.
In many parts of the world, middle class and professional people have been important catalysts for political change, as they have demanded transparency from their rulers and more participation in government. That may come in the Gulf, and the rulers have welcomed the prospect, but it is still a long way off.
In the short term, the emerging middle class will be a vital part of making Gulf societies more complete. Everyone says that they want this to happen, but the novelty of professional life in the Gulf will make it hard on these standard bearers of profound change.
